Full details on the new MINI Clubman

BMW has revealed more information on the new MINI Clubman, the latest body variant of the second generation new MINI. BMW took inspiration from the Morris Mini Traveller, Austin Mini Countryman and the Mini Clubman Estate with this new Clubman, and it first appeared as a concept version called the MINI Traveller at Frankfurt 2005.

The new MINI Clubman is longer by 24cm compared to the 3-door hatch, and this allows for a rear legroom gain of 8cm and an increased bootspace of a total of 260 litres with the seats up, and 930 litres with the rear seats down. On the exterior, the MINI Clubman is also 2cm higher than the hatch model. On the rear, the brake lamp cluster has been updated with a design that sweeps slightly to the side from the top.

The MINI has 5-doors, with 2 conventional doors like the hatch, a little suicide door on the passenger side that MINI calls a Clubdoor, as well as two side-hinged rear doors that form the hatch lid. This body variant will be available as a Cooper, Cooper D and Cooper S and thus badged so, but the Clubman body variant name will be highlighted on the right-hand door sill strip.

For Cooper S models, the exhaust piping is different from the centrally-located design of the 3-door hatch model, instead being positioned at the two sides of the rear bumper.

As for exterior customisability, the C-pillars and rear bumper of the MINI Clubman can be had in either Silver or Black, while the roof can be ordered in either Silver, Black, or body colour. There are 12 body colours to choose from, including an exclusive Clubman colour – Hot Chocolate.

On the interior, it is pretty much similiar to the 3-door model except for the additional exterior legroom. The MINI Clubman comes default as a 5 seater but the rear bench can be replaced with 2 individual seats as a no-cost option.

A quick recap on engine options that are similiar to the 3-door model – a 1.6 litre normally aspirated inline-4 for the Cooper that makes 120hp at 6,000rpm and 160Nm at 4,250rpm, a 1.6 litre turbodiesel with 110hp at 4,000rpm and 240Nm between 1,750 and 2,000rpm with an option for a 260Nm overboost for the Cooper D.

For the exciting Cooper S, you get a 1.6 litre turbocharged engine making 175 horsepower at 5,500rpm and 240Nm between 1,600rpm and 5,000rpm with a 250Nm overboost.

The MINI Clubman also gets new fuel-saving features that the Hatch will also get from August 2007 onwards – Brake Energy Regeneration, Gearshift Point Indicator and Auto Start-Stop. Brake Energy Regeneration is similiar to BMW’s mild hybrid technology of the same name – the electricity supply for on-board systems is provided by a capacitor bank that harvests wasted power during engine overrun or brake application.

Auto Start-Stop is only available on manual transmission, turning off the engine when you shift to neutral and take your foot off the clutch pedal. Once you press down on the clutch pedal again in preparation to shift into first gear to get going again, the engine starts automatically. BMW says this serves to save fuel in city traffic.

The Gearshift Point Indicator is intended to be a driver aid, informing the driver what gear to be in at all times thanks to data collector from sensors monitoring engine speed, driving conditions, and accelerator pedal position.

More photos after the jump, but all of these photos are the same ones published earlier.Click to enlarge

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history. An avid electronic gadget aficionado as well as big-time coffee lover, he's also the executive producer of the Driven motoring TV programme.

i think this is based on mini stationwagon back in the 70s,very funny at that time,and now it still look funny..not saying that its bad…eerrr..how many doors?hey the rear door can open like my grandma’s classic cupboard, very good for car boot sale..this model is a 70s revival…wheres the platform shoes..

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